Studying nursing in Australia (employment, school, universities)

[Stizzel]

Good afternoon ladies and gents. I am currently 24 years old and I live in CA. I graduated college and I am working in the banking world. However, Im looking to switch careers. Ive been volunteering at the local ER and I have fallen in love with the medical field especially nursing. However, I am also looking to make a life change as well. I really would love to move to Australia, as I feel that making a good life in the US is getting harder and harder everyday, and it seems that Australia has better economic opportunities for people who will work hard and is mart with their money. So it come down to this...

I would like to find out how I could study nursing in Australia as an international student. What the costs will be.....what are the requirements....and most importantly...what is the likely hood of me finding a job in Australia and hopefully applying for permanent residency and become a productive member of your guys awesome country. Any info is greatly appreciated. Thanks

[danielsa1775]

Originally Posted by cxr89

Good afternoon ladies and gents. I am currently 24 years old and I live in CA. I graduated college and I am working in the banking world. However, Im looking to switch careers. Ive been volunteering at the local ER and I have fallen in love with the medical field especially nursing. However, I am also looking to make a life change as well. I really would love to move to Australia, as I feel that making a good life in the US is getting harder and harder everyday, and it seems that Australia has better economic opportunities for people who will work hard and is mart with their money. So it come down to this...

I would like to find out how I could study nursing in Australia as an international student. What the costs will be.....what are the requirements....and most importantly...what is the likely hood of me finding a job in Australia and hopefully applying for permanent residency and become a productive member of your guys awesome country. Any info is greatly appreciated. Thanks

My wife initially came to Australia as a student, studied nursing and is now an Australian Registered Nurse, working full time at the Royal Brisbane Hospital.

To Study you have to apply for an Australian Student Visa.

Visa Options - Students - Visas & Immigration

You will have to pay the visa fee per the above site, the course fees for full time international students are going to be at least $10,000 per semester, payable up front. The good thing is the visa enables you to work part time during university semesters, and full time during the summer breaks. So if you are smart and watch your pennies you should be able to pay off the fees without too many problems.

I remember reading an article a few weeks ago to say that something like 80-90% of the 2012 nursing graduates in Queensland have not being able to find employment as a nurse. Mostly because the older more experienced nurses are not retiring at the rate they normally do. The law also states that Australian Permanent Residents are to be given jobs before International Students. From my experience the Government hospitals apply this law quite strictly, the private ones not so much.

I don't want to put you off the idea totally, things can change very quickly. However gaining a job in a major city hospital as a nurse at the moment is not easy, and you unless you are sitting a big pile of cash, you are going to have to study full time and work part time for the next three years with no guarantee of a job, or gaining permanent residency of Australia. That is the unfortunate reality.

My advice to you would be if you come is to try and get a job as an assistant nurse as soon as possible, to gain a bit of experience.

[Stizzel]

Thank you sir for your answer. So it sounds like its possible to pay for school while working time. I am very good with my money so as long as I can get a part time job that pays decently, I don't think that would be a problem. Now in regards to the article you read..was that only for one major city? Reason I asked is because once I get my license, id be willing to work at a rural hospital or any hospital for that matter, as long as I get the experience and hopefully the ability to become a permanence resident. Any other advice from anyone here would be greatly appreciated

[Wild Colonial Girl]

I don't know for sure, but I'd put money on you being able to get a job in a rural area. Try contacting a nursing agency in a rural town.

I'm getting lots ofhits by googling "rural nursing" [state name]

https://www.rwav.com.au/container/nursing/why-rwav

http://www.nswrdn.com.au/site/index.cfm?display=286331

This is interesting
http://www.impactednurse.com/?p=5245

[joeldew]

Originally Posted by cxr89

Good afternoon ladies and gents. I am currently 24 years old and I live in CA. I graduated college and I am working in the banking world. However, Im looking to switch careers. Ive been volunteering at the local ER and I have fallen in love with the medical field especially nursing. However, I am also looking to make a life change as well. I really would love to move to Australia, as I feel that making a good life in the US is getting harder and harder everyday, and it seems that Australia has better economic opportunities for people who will work hard and is mart with their money. So it come down to this...

I would like to find out how I could study nursing in Australia as an international student. What the costs will be.....what are the requirements....and most importantly...what is the likely hood of me finding a job in Australia and hopefully applying for permanent residency and become a productive member of your guys awesome country. Any info is greatly appreciated. Thanks

As you already possess a university degree, you may wish to consider pursuing a Master of Nursing (post grad). This is usually a two-year course (as opposed to a three-year course).

As an international student of nursing, the tuition fees can be quite considerable. You are looking at the vicinity of $12-$15k per year. There are considerable cost differences between the universities. As such, I strongly suggest you peruse various universities sites to compare the differences.

As an international student, you are legally able to work twenty hours per week. You should be able to work more hours between semester breaks. It may assist in covering some of the costs of living.

Hospitals often employ students of nursing as nursing assistants. This will help in developing some of your clinical skills.

Don't worry too much about finding employment post-study, particularly if you wish to explore rural health.

There will always be work for healthcare professionals in the rural sector (with better remuneration than their city counterparts).

Best of Luck.